Sunday, July 29, 2012

I have been wanting to play around with the ink distress technique that you see Tim Holtz and others doing. I wanted to see if I could get this effect using Close To My Heart products. So here is my rendition.
I dropped a drop of Crystal Blue reinker on a sheet of wax paper and then a drop of Sky reinker next to the first drop. Next I spritzed over the drops with some water. I took a paintbrush and mixed the colors some, but left some areas with the original colors. I had previously used this same piece of wax paper to apply some gold Pearl Ex mica powder (not a CTMH product) to some other project and I had put these drops of reinker right over the remaining Pearl Ex. So when I spritzed on the water it reactivated the Pearl Ex too. I then took a piece of Colonial White cardstock and drug it through the mixed reinkers until I had the piece covered in ink. I then let my piece air dry, only because I had to go attend some other chore that was calling me (bum). It could be dried with our craft heater if you were wanting to use the piece immediately.
I was really pleased with the color mix and the gold mica powder added a super touch, I thought. I then cut the circle shape and stamped the bird image.
The patterned papers I used are an older retired CTMH paper pack-Life Delights, but I thought the colors worked well together.
My card sketch came from Mojo Monday challenge #251.

Here is a close-up of just the circle part to show the ink distress technique a little better.

I even decorated the inside. I used the June stamp of the month - Life Is Tweet-and it worked beautifully to use part of the sentiment on the outside and the rest inside.

I will definitely be messing with this ink distress technique in the near future, mixing different colors and not just using monochromatic colors.
Hope you enjoy. Blessings, Polly

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Here is one of the layouts I did for an entry in the Close To My Heart Convention album contest this month. This was a fun LO to do. Everything on these two pages is product from CTMH. I will just list some of the main products used.
Lucy paper pack
Dotty For You paper pack
Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge: the paper flowers, the title letters and the L & H, a couple of the butterfly shapes
Lucy Complements Glittery Rub-ons: the crown, some of the flowers

Having scrapbooked for our three sons and 5 grandsons, its a ton of fun to have a couple little princesses to scrapbook now! The picture of them in their pink and zebra vests are their one yr pictures. And the others are pics that were taken just a few weeks earlier when we were up there visiting. Yes, they live over 1,000 miles away from us.That's sad, but we sure love every minute that we get to spend with them when we're there. Modern technology makes it a little easier to not feel so far away and keep up on their progress. I hope soon to be able to Skype and then we can really feel like we are seeing them more often.
So here is page one and I am putting in this first page in pagemaps embellishments sketch contest.

Sorry the lighting wasn't very good. Here is the second page of the LO

And here a couple of close-ups to show the details a little better. These really are much prettier and brighter in life.

I have seen a lot of monochromatic cards especially in white and cream lately on Pinterest. They are so elegant and classy looking. Just right for wedding and anniversary cards. So this was the card we made in my monthly card class this month. I am entering this in the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #149. Their challenge happens to be a C.A.S, (clean and simple) card and in the Sweet Stampin' Challenge monochromatic challenge. I will have to say that it was very difficult for me not to ink distress. And as you can see, I didn't quite get it pulled off. LOL I ink distressed very lightly the sentiment label. I thought it added just the right amount of pop. I used the Timeless embossing folder from Cuddlebug, a 5 x 7 size. The label and the flower were cut from shapes on the Art Philosopy Cricut cartridge. The flower is actually a couple layers of different sizes of a snowflake and a couple of layers of one of the flower shapes on that cartridge. I misted each layer with water and crumpled it up. Unfolded them somewhat and took a stylus and with each individual layer laid on a mousepad, I ran the stylus around the center to make the flower cup up. And then I let them dry. Glued each layer together one on top of the other, making sure to stagger the petals. I then added some Glitter Glitz around in various places. A clear sparkle in the center finished the flower. It was so hard not to do some ink distressing on those petals. I created a border using a Fiskars border punch and some sheer cream ribbon. A Rhinestone Designer Brad in the center of the ribbon bow was the finishing touch.

Sorry the lighting wasn't real great. Doesn't do the card justice. Here is a closer view of the flower.

Close To My Heart products used:
Cardstock: Colonial White and Black
Ink: Black
Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge
Glitz Glitter Gel-Stardust
Clear Sparkles
Rhinestone Designer Brad
D1192 Now and Forever stamp set (retired) for the sentiment
you can find these products when you click on the "shop with me" button over on the right

Sunday, July 22, 2012

The new Autumn/Winter 2012 catalogs are here! And you can purchase this catalog from me in just a few days!

This 144 pg. catalog is packed with incredible projects, papers, stamps and more! Now, I have a confession to make- generally the Autumn/Winter catalog is not my favorite. I know, for lots of you, its your favorite. But I am delighted, excited, and super thrilled to say that I think this is my favorite catalog ever!! And I have been a consultant for 4 yrs and was ordering from CTMH before that. I LOVE,love,love this catalog. I like/love all the paper packs and I like that they have added Home Decor projects, and of course, as I mentioned before the new Cricut cart "Artiste". These cartridges from CTMH are over the top.
One year ago they introduced the "Art Philosophy" cartridge and I have been using that baby for a year and still haven't used all the images and done all the things that I could do with it. And now we have another that promises to be just as useful and fun if not more so!
Besides this new cartridge here are some of the other features in this book

Studio J Express Collection

Elimination of Studio J memberships. Now only $6.95 per layout for EVERYONE!

I will be explaining some of these new changes and showing some of the new things in the near future.
You can get this catalog from me in one of several ways. Host a Gathering and I will give you the catalog, place an order on my website at pollylewis.ctmh.com and I will send you a free catalog or sign up for my scrapbook club and get a free catalog. You can contact me: scrapinmolly@yahoo.com if you have any questions.
Blessings to you all, Polly

Once again, I have badly neglected this blog. I was so busy right before the convention getting my album contest pages and roomie gifts done. Plus all the stuff that needs to be done before you take off and leave only men and boys in the house for a few days.
It didn't help that I waited til the last minute to decide to do pages for the Album contest. I had been mulling it around in my head for several months, but wasn't completely committed until the last minute. And last minute it was. I actually put some finishing touches on after I arrived at the hotel on Wed. I also, had a wonderful idea for roomie gifts, but could not find the main item that I needed, so I had to come up with plan B at the last minute and by then it couldn't be anything that took much time. I will continue to search for the needed item and maybe I will already have next yrs roomie gift idea planned.
Convention was a fun filled learning experience. I am filled to the brim with crafting ideas and business ideas. I am excited that CTMH has moved into some Home Decor ideas, but they have by no means left the cardmaking and scrapbooking.
In fact, they now have 13 Workshops on the Go. 8 are for each of the featured paper packs, 2 are complete cardmaking kits (which each include an exclusive C-sized stamp set) and 1 is a gorgeous Home Decor project and 1 a Halloween party theme using our new Cricut cartridge "Artiste"!

Like our previous Cricut cart "Art Philosophy", this cartridge is loaded. 700 images: titles, 3-D images, cards and envelopes, cupcakes liners, and pinwheels. Tons of party/holiday themed items. And it is going to be even easier to use. For example, if you want to cut a card and you want it to be a finished 6" card, set the dial at 6" and it will cut the card so that it will be a finished 6" card and the same with the coordinating envelope, leave the dial at the same measurement and envelope will cut for card to fit in. Also, a booklet comes with the cartridge to show you how to fold all the 3-D boxes, bags, purses and such. Each key on the cartridge has its own theme and certain things have a "ideal cut size" marked on its image so that you can get a nice cut.
You can order this incredible cartridge come Aug 1 from me by going to pollylewis.ctmh.com. You can purchase this item straight out for $99. You not only get this cartridge with 700 images, but 3 coordinating D-sized stamp sets and 3 shts of Dimensional Chipboard Elements that coordinate with cuts from the cartridge. One of the shts is pages for a mini album! You can cut the matching pages out of our beautiful paper and it even cuts the holes for the binding!
You can also get this cartridge for half price when you sign up to be a Hostess for a Gathering and your sales reach $250.
Maybe you are interested in having a Gathering, but you live to far away, get in contact with me and we can set up an EZ Invite. You can do a book party and the orders can be sent to each individual.
I will end this post here, but continue to check back as I plan to add several more in the next few days. Including my Album contest pages.
Blessings to you all, Polly

About Me

I am a wife of 33 yrs to my high school sweetheart, mother of 4, grandma to 8. I've homeschooled 3 of my children, worked as a seamtress, and have been a Close To My Heart consultant for 5 yrs. I enjoy my life and try to follow in my Saviors footsteps each and every day. I need another lifetime at least to do all the things I'd like to do.